The Supreme Alpha

Author's note: This is from Luca's point of view

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'Go after her!', Shadow shouted in my mind as Zoe disappeared among the trees.

'What if she rejects me?', I finally said what was plaguing my mind from the moment I figured out that Zoe was my mate.

What if she doesn't want me?

Am I worthy of her?

Zoe was always the one shining, while I basked in her light. I am not good enough for her. She deserves someone who can stand next to her as equal, and what am I? At most, I am a backup dancer in the show Zoe is starring. I never minded watching her from the side, but now I regret that I stayed passive.

If I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, if I achieved more, Zoe would not run away from me.

I could feel Shadow's disapproval. He never liked my waves of negativity that are plaguing me occasionally, and for the last week, I was mostly drowning in it.

'Zoe left only because she thinks you are siblings. Mate feels the bond. She loves us. She will not reject us once she knows that there are no moral obstacles for us to be together.'

Was Shadow right? Will it be that simple? I didn't dare to hope, but I knew that one way or another, I needed to face the music.

I glanced at Ash and gave him a nod, confident that Ash knew by now that he and Zoe are not mates, and he probably guessed that the girl he coveted is mine for taking.

I enjoyed the way Ash's face changed as he connected the pieces. Zoe's rejection, her escape… He definitely knew that after this he has no chances of touching Zoe. She will never go with him willingly because she always saved herself for her mate. And that is me.

I respect Zoe to the core, but I had a perverse pleasure at the thought that I will have Zoe while Ash won't.

Ash always took pride in conquering girls, but Zoe will forever be out of his reach.

Did he read her thoughts and find out that I'm the one?

I bet that he regrets it now.

Ash thinks that it's not a big deal to pry into other people's thoughts. He always gloats when he uncovers someone's secret.

Maybe this will be a lesson for him.

Some things are sacred, and Ash should keep his nose out of other people's business. People don't just blurt out whatever is on their mind for a reason, and Ash is acting like he has the right to see what people are trying to keep to themselves, thinking that he is uncovering treasures and absolute truths that are his to peer into only because of the ability he has.

But he is wrong.

Take me for an example. I thought a hundred times in the last week to snap his neck into two, but I didn't act on it. That's the difference between thinking about it and actually making it a reality.

The ability he is so proud of has a fatal flaw. He can hear other people's thoughts, but he can't distinguish truth from lies. If he touches me and I think about sprouting wings and flying above the Amazon River, will Ash believe I can actually do it? Or maybe I should revisit my thoughts about breaking every bone in his body.

'Stop thinking about that loser and get our mate!', Shadow urged me, and I agreed that he had a point.

It's not that Ash is a loser. He is a good guy most of the time. But the way he treated Zoe rubbed me the wrong way and ruined everything while my newfound mate bond with Zoe only amplified my hostility toward Ash.

I hope that after I claim Zoe as my mate and set things straight with Ash, we can go back to how we used to be before I heard his stories of how he wanted to get into Zoe's panties and before I found out that while he was dating Zoe, he was fooling around with other girls. Actually, this other part makes me less guilty for taking Zoe away from Ash. He doesn't deserve her. He never did.

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The moment I gave in to my instincts, Shadow took over and followed the addicting scent of caramel that Zoe left behind.

Normally, when Shadow is in charge, I relax and relish the freedom that comes with the feeling of the grass and dirt under my paws and the wind whipping through my fur. Technically, it's Shadow's body, but we are sharing all senses, so I feel everything he does.

This time, instead of relaxing, I was anxiously waiting to see Zoe, thinking about what I will say, hoping that she will understand and not run away.

Shadow stopped at the small clearing that was covered with grass and moss and he sniffed the ground.

'Why did you stop?', I asked.

'Mate shifted', he responded and then continued running faster in the direction of Zoe's scent.

I knew that Shadow could feel my concern and he also wanted to ensure that Zoe is safe.

The first shift is something a werewolf never forgets. Not because it's glorious but because it's very painful. It takes a long time to complete the first shift even after the wolf and the human part discuss details in advance, yet Zoe went through that on her own only minutes after finding her wolf.

When I shifted the first time, Tessa and Vito were by my side. I remember Tessa putting icepacks on me while Vito was talking me through the process. It felt like an eternity. Zoe wanted to be present, but wolves who didn't shift are not allowed to attend such events because they might be traumatized and that might affect their shift in the future.

Yeah, it's that bad.

My heart tightened. I was supposed to be there for her, to hold her hand and caress her hair and to tell her that it will be alright. Zoe suffered through her first shift on her own. I failed.

'Mate is close!', Shadow's excited voice jolted me awake and I realized he was right.

I could sense Zoe ahead. Ever since the blood oath, my senses intensified and if I focus on my surroundings, I can pinpoint people's locations before they come into my sight. Too bad I didn't have time to explore this ability. I was too consumed with thoughts about how to avoid Zoe rejecting me and Ash touching me.

'Slow down, Shade. Don't scare her.', I said while eagerly looking ahead as my wolf glided among bushes without making noise.

I was always able to conceal my presence and observe things covertly, and since I got my wolf, Shade and I practiced together. I'm confident that we can sneak on anyone as long as we are down the wind.

With my ability to sense others and move silently, maybe I could be a good assassin. But I never killed before and I hate violence, so I'm not sure if I would be able to assassinate anyone.

I could hear water murmuring. A river?

'Where is she?', I asked impatiently when we emerged on the clearing. I sensed Zoe's location, but I couldn't see her.

'Eleven o'clock. On top of the rocks.', Shadow responded, and it took me a minute to spot a majestic wolf lying there.

'Slowly, Shade…', I reminded him.

We moved silently toward Zoe, and she lifted her head when she sensed our presence.

She probably picked up my scent because I could smell the caramel from where I was standing.

I was dazed by Zoe's beauty.

Golden blonde, just like her hair. Her fur was slightly longer than mine and it had an otherworldly shimmer under the moonlight as it moved with the breeze. Breathtaking.

'I need to talk to her. Shade, give me control. We need to shift into human form…'

'Wait', Shadow said irritably. 'Let me get close to her wolf. No matter what Zoe has on her mind, her wolf will be driven by the instincts and the bond.'

I didn't agree. 'Didn't she escape? Why didn't her wolf seek us if she is driven by instincts?'

'She is not escaping now', Shadow stated the obvious and I gave up.

Slowly, Shadow approached Zoe and when he was only one step away, Shadow stopped moving and let out a whimper.

Everything stilled. The river, the sounds of the forest, everything.

The only thing that moved was my pounding heart and I would give anything only to find out what's going on in her head.

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